April Peavey

April Peavey

April Peavey produces the Global Hit. She is based in the Boston newsroom of The World.

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Protests in Portugal Revive Revolutionary Song ‘Grandola, Vila Morena’ from 1974

March 1, 2013 ⋅ Post a comment
Demonstrators march while holding a banner reading, "Change policy and government", during a protest in Lisbon on February 16, 2013 (Reuters: Jose Manuel Ribeiro)

Demonstrators march while holding a banner reading, "Change policy and government", during a protest in Lisbon on February 16, 2013 (Reuters: Jose Manuel Ribeiro)

The song “Grandola, Vila Morena” first became a symbol of protest during the 1974 revolution that brought democracy to Portugal.

Now it’s being revived to protest against austerity.

Carlos Bahia was 10-years-old in 1974.

He came to the United States in 1977 and now lives in Danbury, CT.

He plays “Grandola, Vila Morena” on his radio program Radio Familia on WFAR in Danbury, Connecticut.

He says he’s getting numerous requests to play the song on his show.

Discussion

2 comments for “Protests in Portugal Revive Revolutionary Song ‘Grandola, Vila Morena’ from 1974”

  • margotizard

    Far as I now know, Grandola Vila Morena was not banned, but Os Vampiros, also by Zeca Afonso was. Sorry I missed hearing this on your program, trouble with being broadcast in the middle of the night. I do listen quite frequently though.

    Why not play Os Vampiros, it’s so so the austerity situation. Zeca lives!

    (The vampires. They eat everything and leave nothing. from the chorus.)

    People sang Grandola, Vila Morena in parliament, interrupting the prime minister I think in February. Seems to be on the official TV site. Pretty muted but lots of participation, and no one got shot. http://youtu.be/M53-cxC8B1E

    PM’s name translates to Peter Rabbit. Rabbit, mouse, small animal surnames are fairly common in Spain and Portugal, simply mean that one’s ancestors were keen on escaping the inquisition, fled to the mountains and took the names of small animals, which many families continued to use for centuries since. Mine means a kind of small mountain goat.

    Nice version of Zeca singing Grandola, Vila Morena, under shots of demo on 2 March, Lisbon. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=kew200u6cgg

    I’m 70, people my age up late might weep to The Vampires. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=53dqcGNltpA

    Chorus is

    Eles comen tudo, (repeats) nao deixam nada.

    They eat everything and leave nothing.

    Zeca lives!

    Margot Izard

    Duncan BC

  • ud6

    I left Portugal after living there for 7 years. My salary (I have a doctorate) dropped from 1400 euros to 300 euros, and out of this I then had to pay social security contributions of 160 euros. Obviously I could not even pay rent, let alone eat. What a social disaster. I never believed that in my life, having 9 years of higher education, I would be working in a job that would not even feed me. The political class have not been hit at all by the crisis, indeed they are wealthier. The problem in Portugal is not social security (the poorer 50% don’t receive any help from the government), but injustice. There is moderate corruption, high levels of nepotism, and a very wealthy political class that keep others effectively in slavery (although obviously, slaves get free food and accommodation). Minimum wage is supposed to be 485 euros a month, but many people I know only earn 200-300 euros (my girlfriend earns 240 euros a month). This is why poor people don’t pay taxes. Meanwhile, ministers receive 230 euros bonus for a day out, the last prime-minister earned 400 million euros in 4 years of office. I am pleased for Portugal, because I do think revolution is inevitable.